“Grace”

 

The Apostle Peter speaks of the "true grace of God."  Peter was concerned that there were people spreading a false gospel.  In a day when the gospel was being spread mostly by word of mouth, it might be easier to present a gospel that was not from Christ.  To let people, know the true gospel, Peter had written this epistle.  He wanted to be sure it arrived at the churches intact, so he sent it by his trusted servant Silvanus.  Most believe that Silvanus was Silas who had travelled with Paul.  Whenever you have the true message circulating among many false ones, there must be a way to test and know which is which.

Thankfully, there is such a test for grace.  God's word gives us a simple test for true grace, saying, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12 ESV)  True grace leads people to reject the ways of the world and live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.  If grace is not present, there will be sin.  The grace of God helps us to live a life apart from sin.  If one who is living in sin tries to tell us who God requires of us, we are not to listen.  Grace will lead to a change in life.